Johnson City now has legal access to a large, low-lying, but strategically important, piece of downtown property on which a flood relief project is planned that likely will result in aesthetic improvements and redevelopment opportunities when the fixes are complete.

Washington County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Seeley's signature this week ended a years-long legal tussle in which U-Haul claimed Johnson City was condemning and possessing its property primarily for financial benefit and not for a flood mitigation project meant to serve the public good.

Erick Herrin, who represented Johnson City in court during legal skirmishes with U-Haul's Nashville attorneys, sent an Agreed Order of Dismissal last week to Seeley. With the judge signing off on the order, U-Haul's claim basically has been thrown out and is no longer a matter to be reviewed in court.